Osteospermum plant named ‘Balserwibli’

ABSTRACT

A new and distinct cultivar of  Osteospermum  plant named ‘Balserwibli’ characterized by its single inflorescence form with “spoon” shaped, white-colored ray florets with “eye” and blue-colored disc florets, medium green-colored foliage, freely branching character, and compact and upright growth habit.

Latin name of the genus and species of plant claimed: Osteospermum hybrida.

Variety denomination: ‘Balserwibli’.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a new and distinct cultivar of Osteospermum plant botanically known as Osteospermum hybrida and hereinafter referred to by the cultivar name ‘Balserwibli’.

The new Osteospermum originated in a controlled breeding program in Billerbeck, Germany, during August 1999. The objective of the breeding program was the development of Osteospermum cultivars that are freely branching, have a compact and upright growth habit, are freely flowering, and have unique flower coloration.

The female parent of the new cultivar was the proprietary Osteospermum hybrida breeding selection designated 09-19-98, not patented, characterized by its white-colored ray florets, yellow-colored disc florets, and vigorous growth habit. The male parent of the new cultivar was the proprietary Osteospermum hybrida breeding selection designated 35-3-99, characterized by its small leaves and compact habit. Seed from the above stated cross-pollination was germinated and grown to maturity. One plant from within the progeny was discovered and selected by the inventor during April 2000 in a controlled environment at Billerbeck, Germany.

Asexual reproduction of the new cultivar by terminal stem cuttings since April 2000 at West Chicago, Ill. has demonstrated that the new cultivar reproduces true to type, with all the characteristics as herein described, firmly fixed and retained through successive generations of such asexual propagation.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The following characteristics of the new cultivar have been repeatedly observed and can be used to distinguish ‘Balserwibli’ as a new and distinct cultivar of Osteospermum plant:

-   -   1. Single inflorescence form with “spoon” shaped, white-colored         ray florets with “eye” and blue-colored disc florets.     -   2. Medium green-colored foliage.     -   3. Freely branching character.     -   4. Compact and upright growth habit.

Plants of the new cultivar differ from plants of the female parent primarily in flower color and growth habit and from plants of the male parent primarily in leaf size.

Plants of the new cultivar are most similar to the cultivar Brightside, U.S. Plant Pat. No. 10,596. However, in side-by-side comparisons, plants of the new cultivar differ from plants of ‘Brightside’ in the following characteristics:

-   -   1. Plants of the new cultivar are taller than plants of         ‘Brightside’.     -   2. Plants of the new cultivar have larger inflorescences than         plants of ‘Brightside’.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE PHOTOGRAPHS

The accompanying photographs show, as nearly true as it is reasonably possible to make the same in color illustrations of this type, typical flower and foliage characteristics of the new cultivar. Colors in the photographs differ slightly from the color values cited in the detailed description, which more accurately describe the colors of the new cultivar. The plants were grown in 10 cm pots for 17 weeks in a greenhouse at West Chicago, Ill.

FIG. 1 illustrates a side view of the overall growth and flowering habit of the new cultivar with one plant per pot.

FIG. 2 illustrates a close-up view of an individual flower of the new cultivar.

DETAILED BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION

The new cultivar has not been observed under all possible environmental conditions to date. Accordingly, it is possible that the phenotype may vary somewhat with variations in the environment, such as temperature, light intensity, and day length without, however, any variance in genotype.

The chart used in the identification of colors described herein is The R.H.S. Colour Chart of The Royal Horticultural Society, London, England, 2001 edition, except where color terms of ordinary significance are used. The color values were determined on Sep. 27, 2004 between 1:00 and 3:00 p.m. under natural light conditions.

The following descriptions and measurements describe plants produced from cuttings taken from stock plants and grown in a double polycarbonate-covered greenhouse under conditions comparable to those used in commercial practice. The plants were grown at West Chicago, Ill. in 10 cm pots for 17 weeks while utilizing a soilless growth medium. Greenhouse temperatures were maintained at approximately 60°-75° F. (15°-24° C.) during the day and approximately 45°-55° F. (7°-13° C.) during the night. Greenhouse light levels were maintained at 5,000 to 9,000 footcandles during the day.

-   Botanical classification: Osteospermum hybrida cultivar Balserwibli. -   Parentage:     -   -   Male parent.—Proprietary breeding selection 35-3-99, not             patented.         -   Female parent.—Proprietary breeding selection 09-19-98, not             patented. -   Propagation:     -   -   Type cutting.—Terminal stem.         -   Time to initiate roots.—Approximately 9 to 12 days.         -   Time to produce a rooted cutting.—Approximately 21 to 28             days.         -   Root description.—Fine, fibrous.         -   Rooting habit.—Freely branching. -   Plant description:     -   -   Crop time.—Approximately 10-13 weeks from a rooted cutting             in a 10 cm pot.         -   Growth habit.—Compact, freely branching.         -   Form.—Upright.         -   Size.—Height: Approximately 31.8 cm from soil level to top             of plant plane. Width (area of spread): Approximately 26 cm.         -   Branch.—Quantity per plant: Approximately 3. Strength:             Strong. Length from soil level to base of peduncle:             Approximately 12.9 cm. Diameter: Approximately 5.3 mm.             Internode length at middle of branch: Approximately 1.6 cm.             Texture: Glabrous. Color: 144A.         -   Foliage.—Quantity per branch: Approximately 16. Type:             Simple. Fragrance: Strong, resinous. Arrangement: Alternate.             Aspect: At an acute angle to the stem. Shape: Elliptic,             Pinnatified. Apex: Acute. Base: Decurrent. Margin: Broadly             dentate. Venation pattern: Pinnate. Length: Approximately             5.9 cm. Width: Approximately 2.6 cm. Texture of upper and             lower surfaces: Pubescent. Color of upper surface of mature             foliage: Slightly more yellow than 137A with venation of             145A. Color of lower surface of mature foliage: 137C with             venation of 144A. -   Flowering description:     -   -   Time to first flower.—Approximately 10-13 weeks from             planting of rooted cutting.         -   Flowering habit.—Freely flowering under outdoor growing             conditions with substantially continuous blooming from             spring through autumn and year round in greenhouse             environment.         -   Flower arrangement.—Solitary, terminal. -   Inflorescence description:     -   -   Appearance/type.—Composite, persistent. Shape: Round.             Aspect: Facing upward or outward. Disc and ray florets             develop acropetally on a capitulum. Fragrance: None.         -   Quantity of flowers and buds per plant.—Approximately 2             inflorescences and 10 buds.         -   Size.—Diameter: Approximately 4.9 cm. Depth: Approximately             2.1 cm.         -   Lastingness of inflorescence.—Approximately 6-8 days.         -   Bud.—Rate of opening: Generally takes from 3-5 days for buds             to progress from first color to fully open flowers. Shape:             Elliptic. Diameter: Approximately 1 cm. Depth: Approximately             1.5 cm. Color: 150A.         -   Ray florets.—Quantity per inflorescence: Approximately 21,             arranged in a single whorl. Arrangement: Very slightly             overlapping. Aspect: Slightly concave. Shape: Ligulate.             Apex: Emarginate with three tips. Base: Attenuate. Margin:             Entire, constricted in center forming a tube with apex being             “spoon” shaped. Length: Approximately 2.7 cm. Width:             Approximately 7.2 mm. Texture: Glabrous. Color of upper and             lower surfaces of young and mature ray florets: Lighter than             N155B.         -   Disc.—Diameter: Approximately 1 cm. Depth: Approximately             5.6 mm. Receptical diameter: 3 mm. Receptical depth: 2 mm.             Receptical color: 145B.         -   Disc florets.—Quantity per inflorescence: Approximately 79.             Shape: Tubular with five lobes each having an acute apex.             Margin: Entire. Length: Approximately 7.8 mm. Diameter at             apex: Approximately 1.9 mm. Diameter at base: Approximately             0.8 mm. Texture: Glabrous. Color of immature floret: Closest             to 96A. Color of mature floret: Closest to 86B.         -   Phyllaries.—Quantity per inflorescence: Approximately 19.             Arrangement: Imbricate, arranged in several rows. Shape:             Lanceolate. Apex: Acuminate. Base: Truncate. Margin: Entire.             Length: Approximately 1.1 cm. Width: Approximately 2.3 mm.             Texture: Glabrous, papery along edges. Color of upper             surface: 143A. Color of lower surface: 143B.         -   Peduncle.—Strength: Strong, pliable. Aspect: Erect. Length:             Approximately 8.1 cm. Diameter: Approximately 1 mm. Texture:             Sparse barbs. Color: 144A.         -   Reproductive organs.—Androecium: Present on disc florets             only. Stamen quantity: 4. Anther shape: Linear. Anther             length: 2 mm. Anther color: 93A. Amount of pollen: Abundant.             Pollen color: 23A. Gynoecium: Present on ray and disc             florets. There is one pistil per floret. Pistil length:             7 mm. Stigma shape: Globular. Stigma length: 0.5 mm. Stigma             color: N92A. Style length: 4 mm. Style color: N155B. Ovary             diameter: 2.5 mm. Ovary color: 145C. -   Seed and fruit production: Neither seed nor fruit production has     been observed. -   Disease and pest resistance: Resistance to pathogens and pests     common to Osteospermum has not been observed. 

1. A new and distinct cultivar of Osteospermum plant named ‘Balserwibli’, substantially as herein shown and described. 